When Colors Clash

The Ukraine revolution became known as the Orange Revolution. President Bush referred to the recent Iraqi vote the Purple Revolution, in reference to the purple-stained fingers of those who voted.

The article notes that culture plays a large role in what color is chosen for a given movement: “In the Philippines, yellow is a sign of homecoming, so Corazon Aquino’s trademark yellow dress became synonymous with the peaceful resistance that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.”

And the colors used these days are a far cry from the blacks, reds, and whites of the previous generations.

The article provides a handy color chart of the latest color/protest combinations:

Pink: Used by Iranian advocates of women’s rights and reform.Yellow: Used by pro-democracy opponents of Kyrgyzstan’s president, Askar Akayev.Cedar: Used by anti-Syrian independece-minded Lebanese.Blue: Used by potential opponents of President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus.